The Integrity of Short-Span Bridges in the Case of Coastal Floods: Monitoring Strategies and an Example

This paper examines short-span bridge (SSB) integrity against floods. They represent the majority of road infrastructures and are often affected by hydraulic erosion and overlap during rainfalls. A method to classify and identify a set of SSBs in an assigned territory is illustrated. An analytical approach to evaluate the severity condition and priority of intervention is then presented, furnishing formulas for designing SSBs or evaluating the safety of existing ones. An emblematic case study, located on Sardinia Island (Italy), is described, applying the proposed approach in terms of hydraulic and structural loads to be considered. Finally, a discussion of the main obtained results is carried out, taking into account experiences due to recent floods and related collapses, with conclusions presented.